The 1905 Club

Chelsea’s Progress Under Maresca Faces Scrutiny Amid Poor Run of Form

Despite Enzo Maresca’s claims that Chelsea are ahead of expectations, a poor run of one win in seven league games has raised doubts about his tactics, squad management, and the ongoing faith in struggling goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Original Source

Sky Sports

Written by

1 Feb

10:06

Analysis

The1905.Club Summary

Enzo Maresca insists that Chelsea have exceeded expectations this season, but their recent slump suggests otherwise. Once in contention near the top of the table, Chelsea have now dropped to sixth place, 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool. The club’s struggles against top teams, coupled with growing criticism of Maresca’s tactical decisions and reluctance to rotate his squad, have raised concerns. The faith shown in Robert Sanchez despite repeated costly mistakes has frustrated supporters, with calls for Filip Jorgensen to be given a chance. Meanwhile, key signings like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, and Christopher Nkunku have been underused, with just seven league starts between them. Monday’s fixture against West Ham will see Maresca go head-to-head with former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who also suffered a dramatic downturn in form before being sacked.

Key Points

Maresca’s Optimism vs. Reality: Despite the head coach insisting Chelsea are improving, their form suggests otherwise. The club has dropped to sixth place, 13 points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.
Struggles Against Top Teams: Chelsea have struggled against the league’s best, earning just one point from four games against Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City.
Similarities to Leicester’s Collapse: Maresca’s Leicester side suffered a late-season decline last year, and some fear history could repeat itself.
Goalkeeping Concerns: Sanchez’s errors have cost Chelsea, leading to calls for Filip Jorgensen to replace him. Maresca’s faith in Sanchez is not shared by fans, who have jeered the goalkeeper in recent matches.
Squad Selection Questions: Big-money signings Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix, and Christopher Nkunku have just seven league starts combined, raising concerns over Maresca’s in-game management.
The Graham Potter Parallel: Monday’s game marks Graham Potter’s return to Stamford Bridge with West Ham. Like Maresca, Potter started well but quickly fell into a downward spiral before being sacked.

What’s Next?Chelsea must bounce back against West Ham to keep their top-four hopes alive. If results don’t improve, Maresca could face the same fate as Potter.